Abstract: A solenoid operated valve is provided particularly constructed to decrease friction in the course of operation and thus of the hysteresis or actuating lag effect. The general construction utilizes a solenoid acting to maintain closure of a valve by pulling on an armature to which is integrally secured a valve operating element having a valve head at one end and which passes through the core on which the solenoid is mounted. The armature has a piston formation extending into a pressure chamber of the housing. Pressure in the outlet of the valve communicates with the pressure chamber to maintain a net closing effect on the valve. Accordingly, pressures at the valve are prevented from acting against the energized solenoid.

Abstract: Pump pressure in a fluid power assisted steering device is regulated through the suction side of the pump to supply pressurized fluid to a servomotor through a fluid pressure actuated steering control valve. A pre-control valve controls pressure in an actuating chamber of the steering control valve in response to displacement of the hand steering wheel to obtain a variation in servomotor pressure that is a linear function of the force applied to the steering wheel up to a cut-out point, above which the servomotor pressure rises sharply to a maximum value.

Abstract: A fluid pressure zone is established within the piston bore of a top-loading type of radial piston pump, in opposing relation to the intake passage intersecting the bore to take up radial clearance between the piston and a sealing surface portion of the bore between the intake passage and the pressure chamber into which fluid is displaced by the piston.

Abstract: A power steering arrangement has a booster pressure cylinder shiftable on a piston fixed to the vehicle frame with steering rods connecting from the cylinder to the vehicle wheels. Valve means operable by a manually operated steering wheel pressurizes and exhausts the cylinder chambers at the ends of the piston. The valve means is carried in the piston for compactness and is actuated by a rack reciprocated by a pinion rotated in response to rotation of the manual steering wheel. The arrangement provides the advantage of compact assembly and rugged construction coupled with a minimum of oil leakage from the pressure cylinder. Inasmuch as the piston rod is fixed and has flow passages connecting to pump and tank, attachment of conduits for pressure and exhaust may be readily made. There are no moving conduit parts and tight sealing is achieved. The arrangement effects a desirable geometry of the steering mechanism.

Abstract: A piston assembly is mounted at an inner axial end of the toothed portion of a rack within a tubular extension of a hydrosteering gear housing. The piston assembly includes a piston ring floatingly supported with axial clearance on the base portion of a mounting ring axially fixed to the rack at said inner axial end.

Abstract: The intake fitting of a vehicle engine driven pump mounted on the engine block is connected to one end of an elongated, flexible conduit section acting as a fluid storing reservoir. The other open end of the conduit remote from the pump is anchored at a location in the engine compartment of a vehicle above the pump and readily accessible for servicing and oil level monitoring. A removable cap closes the open end of the conduit section.

Abstract: A conventional power steering cylinder and valve assembly of the kind having a steering spindle and a torsion rod between relatively rotative valve members is provided with a steering resistance simulating means in the form of a tubular piston that surrounds the torsion rod and axially abuts the manually rotated portion of the steering spindle through a rotation resisting cam device. The reaction piston is axially movable but splined to the torsion rod in a manner to prevent rotation, and subjected to axial pressure force to thus resist manual rotation of the steering spindle. Manual force is exerted to act through the cam device to effect axial movement of the reaction piston against the pressure force thereon to achieve a steering resistance simulation. A particular feature resides in optional use of the reaction piston in an otherwise known cylinder and valve construction, depending on market choice.

Abstract: A hydraulic rack steering system is provided with a unitary seal assembly around a piston rod which is a composite of compressible toroidal gaskets having an intermediate pre-stressing ring constructed and arranged to radially stress a plastic sealing ring against a piston rod. Thus, there is a sliding sealed relationship established between the piston rod and a composite sealing assembly secured within the servocylinder. The composite sealing ring assembly is carried in an assembly housing with the components locked in place therein by a closure ring press fitted into the housing. The cover ring is spaced from the composite sealing members in order to permit clearance for the piston rod to follow bending of a rack with which the piston rod is integral and wherein the rack is subjected to bending effected by steering stress.

Abstract: Passage bridging cavities formed in a steering gear housing communicate with annular grooves in a cylindrical valve element through recesses in the cavities at limited, and angularly spaced valve edge locations to control distribution of pressurized fluid in a hydrostatic power steering system in response to axial and rotational movement of the valve element.

Abstract: A power steering gear assembly having a single control valve suitable for use in a single circuit type of power steering system, may be simply converted to use in a two-circuit type of power steering system by replacement of the steering spindle and the addition of a housing extension enclosing a second control valve formed on the replaced steering spindle. Both control valves include portions of the common steering spindle and control sleeves rotatable thereon, with one of the control sleeves being formed in one piece with the worm shaft of the steering gear assembly.

Abstract: Dual function valve assemblies mounted within the operating piston of a power steering servomotor, control the flow of pressurized fluid between opposing piston chambers to both limit travel of the piston and limit the maximum pressure developed within the pressurized chamber by cutting off the pressure as the piston approaches a limit position and relieving excess pressure during piston travel.

Abstract: A boat is supported on a wheeled trailer frame by idler rollers and by powered rollers, of a self-adjusting type, located adjacent the rear end of the trailer frame from which the boat is loaded or unloaded. The powered rollers are driven by drive motors through self-locking gears to effect loading or unloading. The boat is held in a transport position on the trailer frame by the powered rollers through the self-locking gearing when the drive motors are de-energized.

Abstract: A surge chamber hydraulically connected between the outlet of a radial piston pump and the internal chambers of the piston plungers, cooperates with a second fluid storing surge chamber in the pump housing through connecting passages to dampen vibrations produced by pump flow fluctuations to reduce non-uniform flow and the noise level during pump operation under a wide range of pressures and speeds.

Abstract: A distributor valve is reset to a neutral position relative to a piston valve in a servo-steering gear by rotational adjustment of a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through a non-rotatable rack externally of the housing enclosing the piston and the distributor valve. The distributor valve is locked in adjusted position at a location externally of the housing relative to one end of the rack to which it is threadedly connected internally of the housing.

Abstract: Axially spaced and aligned longitudinal distributor grooves are formed in the radially outer surface of a thin-walled tubular valve element in angularly spaced relation to internal grooving of the valve element for conducting pressurized fluid and establishing a torsional coupling in a hydrostatic controller associated with a power steering system. Obliquely orientated bores in the valve housing establish fluid communication between the longitudinal grooves adjacent opposite axial ends of the housing and axial passages in the housing.

Abstract: Axially spaced distributor grooves externally formed on a rotatable controller valve element conduct pressurized fluid to a servomotor in response to axial displacement of the valve element within a housing enclosing pressurized spaces to which opposite axial ends of the valve element are exposed. Flow of the pressurized fluid through the grooves is controlled by slide valve surfaces on the valve element axially between the pressurized spaces and the grooves.

Abstract: In a steering control valve device of the kind utilizing a metering pump and a torsional stress means for returning the flow control valve sleeve to a neutral position, there is provided a coupling sleeve between the manually operable steering spindle and the valve sleeve. Such coupling sleeve is for the purpose of providing an intermediate actuating member between the steering spindle and the valve sleeve to overcome errors in alignment and other disadvantages which can occur in conventional constructions where the steering spindle directly actuates the valve sleeve wherein rotation of the steering spindle effects axial shift of the valve sleeve for flow control purposes. The invention is particularly advantageous where the means of translating rotary motion of the steering spindle to axial movement of the valve sleeve is effected by threaded coaction.

Abstract: An improvement in apparatus for lifting an agricultural implement carried by a tractor provides for automatic rapid level adjustment of the implement relative to the terrain under control of a valve system which comprises a regulator valve controlling inlet flow to the pump responsive to a comparator valve carried by the implement. A continuous throtted flow from the regulating valve to the comparator valve is maintained at constant pressure tending to open a valve in the comparator while a sensor or feeler contacting the ground serves to effect a greater or lesser opposing force. A servo valve is provided which effects a back pressure acting together with feeler actuation. An equilibrium position of the valve determines the level to which the implement is changed, holding it constant on level ground until the feeler is actuated by encountering a rise or fall in the terrain. The construction provides for varying the elevation of an implement by either raising it or lowering it to meet rise or fall of terrain.

Abstract: A mode of assembly for a vane pump rotor and drive shaft provides a construction wherein a plain, i.e., sleeve or collar type bearing can be used for the support of the drive shaft. The arrangement affords axial positional securing, i.e., axial fixation of the drive shaft with a spring ring peripherally confined by a recess in the pump rotor to prevent its being dislodged and thus affording safety in maintaining axial securement of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A rotary plug steering valve of the worm gear type for auxiliary power steering of motor vehicles is provided with a rotary plug valve and a coacting valve sleeve including means for flow passage of return hydraulic fluid to a servomotor via an inner ported sleeve disposed within the valve plug, which sleeve also serves as an alignment and bearing member for the valve plug. The advantage achieved by thus providing additional serial flow control edges between the rotary plug and a return connection via the inner sleeve is the reduction of hissing flow noises in steering operations, by a throttling of return oil flow during the relative rotation of the valve plug and the inner sleeve. This reduces the cross section of return oil flow passage, but causes no throttling in neutral position of the valve for straight ahead steering when respective passages of the valve plug and inner sleeve are in full register.